Indian visitors to the US hit an all-time high, surpassing Germany and becoming the second-largest overseas source market
India has emerged as one of the top overseas markets for US tourism, with a record 2.2 million Indian visitors in 2024, according to Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA. India has moved up to become the second-largest overseas source market, following the UK, which saw 4 million visitors, and surpassing Germany at 2 million, though Canada and Mexico remain the top sources, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Since 2019, Indian visitation to the US has grown by 49%, marking the highest growth rate among all international markets. A record number of visas, totaling 1 million in the last two years, have been issued to Indian citizens, with an additional 250,000 interview slots made available for 2025. The US currently holds 5 million valid visas issued to Indian nationals, with many having a high repeat travel factor.
India’s tourism growth to the US shows remarkable progress with a 49% rise in Indian visitors since 2019, the highest growth rate among international markets
Indian travelers contributed $20 billion to the US economy in 2023, making India the fourth-largest contributor to US tourism revenues, after Canada, Mexico, and China. This is a significant rise from the $14 billion spent by Indian tourists in the US in 2019.
Dixon highlighted that 86% of Indians have a favorable view of the US as a destination, the highest of any country surveyed, followed by Italy and Brazil at 78%. Indian travelers also tend to stay longer in the US, averaging 13 days compared to the international average of 6-7 days.
With US President Donald Trump announcing year-long festivities to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the US set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, these numbers are expected to increase. Overall international visitor arrivals are projected to rise from 72.4 million in 2024 to 78.8 million in 2025 and 85.8 million in 2026.
The most popular US states for Indian visitors include California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Washington DC, with New Jersey also emerging as a top destination. Niagara Falls remains the top tourist attraction, with India accounting for 70% of business for some helicopter services at the site.
Leisure travel makes up 66% of Indian visits to the US, followed by business travel at 20% and student travel at 14%. The US is also seeing growth in culinary tourism, national parks, urban experiences, and family entertainment.
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